October - November 1813 – Meryton – London
There's a famous saying that one swallow doesn't make a summer, and although Fanny Bennet realized some of her mistakes, she was never going to be a sensible woman, and in a small society with gossipy women, she quickly began to revert to her old habits.
Before leasing a house in Meryton, Fanny was to going to stay at the Phillips' for a few weeks, and Mr. Phillips had to assess whether it was wise for Fanny to stay permanently in Meryton.
The first few weeks, she was supposedly in deep mourning and hardly ever left her sister's house or met anyone. She was content just to tell her sister the story she had agreed with his brother and daughters about Lydia's death, her life in Liverpool, Miss Taylor, and Jane's marriage. Her initial description of Mr. Barrington was flattering; but as the days passed, she returned to her old belief that 'Jane could have married much better because she is so beautiful...'
Mrs. Phillips, as was her wont, repeated in the village what her sister told her, and even added 'drama' to her sister and nieces' situation. In this way, in a few days, Mr. Barrington was no longer a serious and kind man, but a cunning man who had 'caught' the beautiful and naive Jane.
Within six months of Lydia's alleged death, Mrs. Bennett began participating in society again, and a concerned Mr. Phillips noticed that she had begun to make inappropriate comments. He talked to her more than once, but after a few days, Fanny was reckless again.
One afternoon, he was in his office with the door ajar and he overheard a conversation between Fanny, his wife, Lady Lucas, and Mrs. Long…
"... What happened to Lydia was so sad... She was such a beautiful and lively girl; I imagine you must miss her very much." Lady Lucas commented.
"Yes, I miss her very much... No one can imagine how much I suffer from her death."
"Certainly, all of us who knew her were saddened by her death and we were surprised she was not buried in Longbourn's Cemetery." Mrs. Long commented.
Unfortunately, Fanny didn't remember the answer her brother had told her to say if someone made that comment… "I'm very upset about that. My brother told me Lydia couldn't be buried in Longbourn Cemetery because the estate is leased and no longer belongs to us. It's not fair, my poor and beloved Lydia is buried far away in a dark and forgotten cemetery, and no one is going to visit her." She sighed dramatically, "My brother was very cruel to me, and I begged him to change his mind but he didn't listen to me."
"I am also very upset with him and Mrs. Darcy. I already sent him a letter and told him that I am very upset with him." Added Mrs. Phillips.
"I don't understand what Mrs. Darcy has to do with your brother's decision." Lady Lucas curiously commented.
"My brother, without even consulting me, relinquished custody of Johnny to Mr. Darcy and the administration of Sandstone and Longbourn. I'm sure it was Mr. Darcy who didn't allow Lydia to be buried at Longbourn Cemetery! He won't even let me see Johnny! After everything I did for Elizabeth!"
Very worried, Mr. Phillips at that moment left his office and joined the ladies. He cleverly asked Lady Lucas about her youngest daughter's engagement, and that night after having a serious conversation with Fanny, he wrote a long letter to Mr. Gardiner asking him to come urgently to Meryton. It was clear that, for the sake of his nieces, Fanny could not live in Meryton.
Afterward, Mr. Gardiner tried to persuade his wife to let his sister live with them, but Madeleine was adamant. Several possibilities were discussed, and one by one they were discarded until finally, Mr. Gardiner leased a small house just 5 blocks from his house, and Fanny moved permanently to London.
Before long, she got used to living in London; twice or three times a week she visited her dear Jane, and just as many times a week she went to the Gardiners'.